Tag Archives: ULI Arizona

ULI Arizona Trends Day is a one-day deep dive bringing together 25+ top industry experts to discuss the most current state and national real estate trends, with a focus on what to expect in the future, where the best opportunities can be found, and how these components affect both public and private sector partners. Trends Day is a “state of the state” conference with more than 900 attendees. This year marks the 10th annual Trends Day for ULI Arizona.

Attendees can expect a lively and informative exchange debuting this year as The Trends Debate. Two teams will explore the topic of Incentives – are they crony capitalism or necessary tools for promoting and attaining strategic economic goals?

Keynote speaker Rick Reilly is an award-winning journalist and legendary sportswriter. He will share his unique perspective, wit, wisdom, and hilarious tales of his 30 years in sports. He is a member of the National Sportswriters and Sportscasters Hall of Fame and has been voted National Sportswriter of the Year eleven times.

Contrasting ideas can create tension, but are necessary when it comes to successful development projects.

That is the theme for the next ULI Arizona main program, titled “Design and Development – Two Perspectives,” the first joint event with AIA Phoenix Metro.

The program is scheduled for June 3 at the Montelucia Resort, 4949 E. Lincoln Drive in Paradise Valley. Registration begins at 2:30 p.m. The program is from 3-5 p.m. with a networking reception to follow.

The industry wants to build healthy, financially sound, and sustainable environments for the generations to follow. But definitions of success and professional perspectives can vary. Is it possible not only to reconcile contrasting visions, but to find new opportunities for collaboration in the process? The answer is yes.

When cities face complex land use and real estate issues amidst a multitude of opinions and interests, ULI Arizona helps make experts in the industry available to provide strategic advice. Amy Malloy, senior development manager at Macerich, joined ULI Arizona’s Technical Assistance Panel (AzTAP) committee eight years ago after receiving AzTAP assistance for downtown redevelopment while working in Apache Junction.

Now, she’s on the other side of the program as the ULI Arizona AzTAP committee vice-chair and, along with other AzTAP committee members, works closely with different sponsor communities to coordinate one- to two-day panel programs that provide objective, nonpartisan guidance to local jurisdictions on specific development challenges. Interdisciplinary panel teams are chosen for their specific knowledge and the holistic examination that they provide to help resolve local issues.

“This is a rewarding program to be involved in giving back to Arizona municipalities,” Malloy says, adding, “I think ULI is just such a valuable organization to look critically and intuitively at smart land use.”

For the past four years, the Union Pacific Building America Foundation has helped underwrite AzTAP costs enabling smaller communities to benefit for this resource. Interest for this program is souring statewide, ranging from rural counties dealing with open space preservation issues to small town central business districts and main street revitalization.

Malloy says it takes several months to prepare for an AzTAP, from developing briefing materials to picking the right panel of industry experts and working with local officials and stakeholders to define the scope of questions that will frame the panel discussion. The sponsor community prepares a briefing book of local economic and demographic information and often arranges a site tour to provide panelists on-the-ground perspective into local conditions.

“AzTAP panels are able to look critically at community problems,” she says. “Sometimes a panel offers back to basics strategies which can be a wake-up call, because we offer external perspectives that aren’t mired in local politics, the guidance can be particularly effective.”

This was evident in the Town of Carefree. The day after the panel, the town formed a steering committee to begin implementing suggested changes.

“People sitting separately at the beginning of the day were now sitting together,” says Malloy. “The town manager was the unsung hero in all of this. He was trying his hardest to get these divergent interests in one direction. Fortunately, the AzTAP was the tool that helped bring people in line. The light bulb had gone off.”

Carefree Mayor David Schwan agrees. “The AzTAP program created energy in both the town staff and the economic stakeholders in Carefree,” says Schwan. “Building owners, landlords, merchants and restaurant operators were all enthusiastic about the process of the AzTAP. The recommendations of the meeting are being used in a full-scale economic study of Carefree possibilities. In my view, the AzTAP was a critical first step to move forward with a sound plan for economic development in Carefree.”

New this year will be a panel moderated by Grady Gammage Jr. that will focus on the impact of pro sports on local land use and real estate development. That panel will feature Michael Bidwill, Arizona Cardinals; Jerry Colangelo, JDM Partners; Steve Patterson, ASU; and Robert Sarver, Western Alliance Bancorporation.

ULI Arizona will offer a special tribute to real estate development icon and founder of the Arizona District Council, Lee T. Hanley, who passed away last year.

Tuesday’s event begins at 7:15 a.m. with registration; the networking reception begins at approximately 5 p.m. Walk-up registration will be accepted the day of the event. For more information: arizona.uli.org.

The Urban Land Institute of Arizona has received a $12,500 grant to strengthen development opportunities between the City of Phoenix, educational and medical institutions, and the surrounding community that could include infrastructure or real estate development, workforce training, local purchasing and tailored services to expand customer base in surrounding neighborhoods for the “Reinvent PHX,” effort.

ULI’s ongoing involvement with “Reinvent PHX,” unites decision-makers in one-on-one or small group settings surrounding public-private partnership strategies for community revitalization and “shared-value” community investment options.

“We are thrilled to receive the grant to aid the City’s Reinvent PHX, it validates the work completed to date and provides new opportunities for implementation,” said Deb Sydenham, ULI Arizona’s Executive Director. “We look forward to using the money to create lasting partnerships that encourage positive community development.”

The expected outcome is a community-wide understanding of public-private opportunities between the City of Phoenix and anchor institutions. “Reinvent PHX” is targeting key decision-makers representing Gateway Community College, Arizona State University, St. Joseph’s Hospital, University of Phoenix and many others.

In addition, the ULI Arizona District Council will lead a series of ongoing expert facilitated forum(s) on public-private partnership opportunities. Discussions will surround district parking facilities, employee/student housing and real estate development to encourage strategic and mutually beneficial industry clusters.

The money received for the program will support ULI priorities such as considerable relevancy and focus on the “Creation of Resilient Communities,” and “Connecting Capital and the Built Environment Through Value,” goals.

Interested parties should contact Deb Sydenham, Executive Director, ULI Arizona (602-449-7921) to find out more about the grant ULI received or about “Reinvent PHX.” For more information on ULI Arizona visit www.arizona.uli.org.

The Urban Land Institute of Arizona received a $12,500 grant to strengthen development opportunities between the City of Phoenix, educational and medical institutions, and the surrounding community that could include infrastructure or real estate development, workforce training, local purchasing and tailored services to expand customer base in surrounding neighborhoods for the “Reinvent PHX,” effort.

ULI’s ongoing involvement with “Reinvent PHX,” unites decision-makers in one-on-one or small group settings surrounding public-private partnership strategies for community revitalization and “shared-value” community investment options.

“We are thrilled to receive the grant to aid the City’s Reinvent PHX, it validates the work completed to date and provides new opportunities for implementation,” said Deb Sydenham, ULI Arizona’s Executive Director. “We look forward to using the money to create lasting partnerships that encourage positive community development.”

The expected outcome is a community-wide understanding of public-private opportunities between the City of Phoenix and anchor institutions. “Reinvent PHX” is targeting key decision-makers representing Gateway Community College, Arizona State University, St. Joseph’s Hospital, University of Phoenix and many others.

In addition, the ULI Arizona District Council will lead a series of ongoing expert facilitated forum(s) on public-private partnership opportunities. Discussions will surround district parking facilities, employee/student housing and real estate development to encourage strategic and mutually beneficial industry clusters.

The money received for the program will support ULI priorities such as considerable relevancy and focus on the “Creation of Resilient Communities,” and “Connecting Capital and the Built Environment Through Value,” goals.

Interested parties should contact Sydenham (602-449-7921) to find out more about the grant ULI received or about “Reinvent PHX.”